Midseason Trade Candidates: American League

It's never too early to try to predict which players will be traded in July. Here's a look at American League possibilities.

This is not meant as a slight toward the Orioles, Indians, Royals, and Mariners, but their chances of contention in 2011 appear slim. Given their division, the Blue Jays face long odds as well. Anything is possible; I pegged the Padres as deadline sellers before the 2010 season.

One thing you will not notice in this group of speculative trade candidates for the American League is a frontline starting pitcher. Even identifying a good surprise candidate is tough, unless things go awry for the Twins and they field offers for Francisco Liriano.

Comments

Disagree about Encarnacion. I’d say if he’s putting up numbers where he’s an above average DH then the value is too good to move him, and if he’s not his defensive woes will prevent him from being a realistic option for a contender.

In some ways it would be a bit of an athletic waste, but considering that he is blocked, do you think the Jays would give Thames some time at first to make him more flexible and a solid prospect option for 1B behind Lind (the farm is pretty bare there)? This would give them someone that could DH, rotate in the OF, and play 1B. Certainly there would be room on the 2012 team for a player like that.

It’s a possibility I suppose.. However I was really impressed with David Coopers fielding, the guy looked like a young overbay out there. Obviously his bat needs to come around but he could be an option as well.

This article seems valid enough as long as all these teams aren’t playoff threats. This seems to be the case, which unfortunately means only the Yanks, Red Sox, Twins, Tigers, White Sox, A’s, Angels, and Rangers are playoff contenders. Although, I would love for any of these “sellers” to surprise us all – most likely would be the Jays or O’s.

Here is my problem with saying that Sizemore is a great trade candidate.

According to Cot’s if he is traded: he receives $0.5M bonus and his salaries increase by 10%. The $8.5 million team option for 2012 becomes a player option.

Now, if he is healthy and traded, he would only be a half a season rental. A healthy Grady Sizemore is going to get much more than $8.5 on the open market. So, the Indians would be trading away 1.5 years of cost effective control over him, while the receiving team would have to pay him $1.25 million more than Cleveland would and they are only getting him for half a year.

Now, if he isn’t healthy and still traded. The new team would still have to pay him more ($2 million over the life of the deal) and if he isn’t healthy, he would exercise his player option for then $9.35 million.

Neither scenario is appealing to a team that would have to give up promising prospects to get Sizemore.